'The best innings I've ever seen': Test legends react to Ben Stokes masterclass
Test greats from all corners of the globe have taken to social media, radio, and live broadcasts to voice their opinions on Ben Stokes' scarcely believable unbeaten hundred at Headingley.
Needing 76 runs for the final wicket, Stokes hit eight sixes, adding 74 of the final 76 runs needed
On broadcast:
Ex-Australian captain Ricky Ponting was in disbelief after Stokes dispatched Pat Cummins to the cover boundary to seal the win.
"That is one of the best innings I've ever seen in the Test arena," Ponting said.
With him on Nine's coverage was Nasser Hussain, a former English captain who took great pride in the hosts' victory.
"The Ashes is well and truly alive because of one cricketer, and that cricketer is Benjamin Stokes," Hussain said.
Ben Stokes signals to the Headingley crowd. AAP
Ex-Australian wicket-keeper was more unequivocal in his stance, dealing in absolutes.
"That is the best Test innings I have ever seen," Healy said.
Another ex-Australian captain, Ian Chappell, took a more cautious approach praising Stokes' mental strength.
"His resolve, it actually got better as the innings wore on," Chappell said.
Ben Stokes celebrates his winning runs AAP
"After he burnt Jos Buttler (in an unfortunate run-out), he just went to another level, and flat out refused to leave the middle without winning the game for England.
"It's an incredible performance."
High praise also came from Stokes' old skipper, Alistair Cook, who speaking on BBC Radio, said that the all-rounder's innings tops any ever produced by an Englishman previous.
"The greatest ever innings by an Englishman," Cook said.
On social media:
For those not covering the game, or at the ground to share their reaction, twitter was the next best medium.
Teammate and England middle-order batsman Dawid Malan:
Ex-English captain Michael Vaughan said Stokes' innings was the best in Test history:
Former England off-spinner Graeme Swann was, well, typical Graeme Swann:
An English dasher who broke Australian hearts a number of times himself likened Stokes to James Bond:
Another hard-hitting Test batsman, Virender Sehwag, praised Stokes' solo effort:
And, to top it off, England's World Cup winning captain, who saw his teammate do something very similar in one of the most famous World Cup finals of all-time, was short and sweet in his words:
